Many people feel supported by Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities and pink merchandise. Others feel the month focuses on people who’ve been cured and leaves out people with metastatic disease. Some men with breast cancer feel the overwhelming pinkness of the month silences their experience. And others feel the pink labels on products linked to higher breast cancer risk, such as alcohol and cosmetics with ingredients like triclosan, are hypocritical. 

This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Community Meetup featuring guest moderator Kelly Grosklags.

Listen to the episode to hear:

This is a bonus episode of the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠⁠⁠webinar⁠⁠⁠.

If you’ve struggled with anxiety, fear, depression, anger, loneliness, or felt overwhelmed by the emotional impact of a breast cancer diagnosis, this webinar is for you. 

You’ll learn about a variety of approaches to treat and manage mental health issues from counseling to complementary therapies, lifestyle changes, medication, meditation, and much more.

Anyone diagnosed with breast cancer can benefit from mental health support. Watch the video to hear what the experts recommend.

Discussion topics include:

The webinar also features a calming 10-minute meditation.

Learn more about taking care of your mental health after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Featured Speakers:

Bethany Adair
Mindset Coach, Author, and Stage IV Cancer Thriver

Ting Bao, MD, MS
Co-Director of the Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Susan Glaser, LCSW
Senior Clinical Social Worker, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Rhonda Schaller, MPS, MBSR
Assistant Vice President; Co-Lead of The Mindfulness Collaboratory, Pratt Institute

Marisa Weiss, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org

Triple-negative breast cancer is negative for both estrogen and progesterone receptors. So, it’s hormone receptor-negative. People diagnosed with this type of breast cancer aren’t offered hormonal therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence (the cancer coming back) because it’s thought that they wouldn’t be effective. 

Dr. Lisa Newman and colleagues published research that found that among people diagnosed with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, nearly 33% of the recurrences or second primary breast cancers were hormone receptor-positive. This means the hormone receptor status had changed when the cancer came back or when there was a new cancer. The results raise this question: Should people with triple-negative disease be offered hormonal therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence?

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Newman explain:

This is a bonus episode of the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠⁠webinar⁠⁠.

Making decisions about breast reconstruction is personal. Hours of research can go into your choice about restoring the shape and size of one or both breasts. It’s also important to think carefully about how you want to look and feel in your body. 

Implants, flap reconstruction, fat grafting, going flat, immediate or delayed, breast surgeons, plastic surgeons, risks, benefits, costs — there’s a lot to consider.

Whether you’re planning for reconstruction, having a corrective procedure, or recovering from surgery, watch this webinar to learn from experienced plastic surgeons. 

Marisa Weiss, MD, interviewed Clara Lee, MD, MPP, FACS and Sarosh Zafar, MD to ask them questions from our community about reconstruction decisions after lumpectomy and mastectomy, expectations for the procedures and recovery time, side effects, symmetry, nipple reconstruction, and much more. 

Read more about breast reconstruction.

Featured Speakers:

Clara Lee, MD, MPP, FACS
Plastic Surgeon and Professor of Surgery, University of North Carolina

Marisa Weiss, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org

Sarosh Zafar, MD
Plastic Surgeon, Center for Restorative Breast Surgery

A medical assistant at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in Upstate New York, Chelsea Vangrol had seen young women diagnosed with breast cancer. But she never expected to be one of them. She shares her experience of being diagnosed with DCIS at age 25 so other people in a similar situation will know they’re not alone.Listen to the episode to hear Chelsea discuss:

This is a bonus episode of the audio of a Breastcancer.org ⁠webinar⁠.

Whether you’re adjusting to changes to your body, experiencing weight fluctuation, hair loss, hot flashes, or just trying to feel “like yourself” again, this webinar will give you a toolkit of style strategies to try.

Dr. Weiss and Emma John discuss their personal stories, and how self-expression through style has helped them after breast cancer. They’ll share practical, affordable ideas to help you feel comfortable, confident, and stylish—no matter where you are in your treatment for breast cancer. 

Topics include: 

This episode is for anyone who wants to reclaim your sense of self, or develop a whole new style that feels right for you. Remember, style is not about chasing trends or fitting into someone else’s idea of beauty. It’s about honoring your story, embracing your body as it is today, and finding moments of joy. 

Featured Speakers:

Emma John
Personal Stylist and Founder, Sisterhood of Style

Marisa Weiss, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a relatively new type of medicine for breast cancer. Enhertu (chemical name: fam-trastuzumab-deruxtecan-nxki) and Dato-DXd (brand name: Datroway) are two ADCs used to treat breast cancer.

Dr Benjamin Schrank and colleagues have developed a new type of ADC that combines an antibody with a toxin — called an antibody-toxin conjugate — that teaches the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Schrank explain:

Episode image photo credit: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

At the start of her second trimester, Rafaela Dreisin was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36. Listen to the episode to hear Rafaela discuss:

This is a bonus episode of the audio of a Breastcancer.org webinar.

It’s normal to experience emotional challenges after a cancer diagnosis. From body image to managing relationships, heightened stress, the fear of recurrence, and so much more. 

In this webinar, you’ll learn about a variety of ways to cope with the anxiety and doubts that can take hold. 

Breast cancer patients and survivors will share what helps them manage their mental health struggles. They discuss candidly how they find strength and hope even on their most difficult days.  

We'll also hear from experts on finding mental health support and different approaches to getting the help you need. 

After you watch the webinar, hear Dr. Stephanie Ross answer more audience questions in a “Stage Free” podcast interview. And learn more about taking care of your mental health after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Featured Speakers:

Martha Gamez-Smith
Breast Cancer Advocate

Loriana Hernández-Aldama
Founder, ArmorUp for LIFE

Allison Ko
Metastatic Breast Cancer Advocate

Stephanie Ross, PhD
Founder, Illness Navigation Resources

Carolyn Teschler
Breast Cancer Advocate

Tiah Tomlin-Harris
Breast Cancer Advocate, Breastcancer.org Virtual Support Group facilitator

Marisa Weiss, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Breastcancer.org

This podcast is the audio from a special Virtual Support Group meetup featuring guest moderator Joanna Doran.

Listen to the podcast to hear Joanna and Community members discuss: